06.11.2025
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The project’s 9th newsletter is published at the project’s midterm stage, highlighting the most significant achievements and partner contributions on the path toward implementing the circular economy in Latvia. Since the previous newsletter in June 2025, project partners have carried out a range of initiatives:
LTD “CleanR” has opened the most modern sorted waste collection site in Riga,
LTD “ZAAO” has expanded environmental education activities and developed biological waste processing,
LTD “Zaļā josta” continues its public awareness campaigns,
“Eco Baltia vide” and “Latvijas Zaļais punkts” are promoting the culture of repair and textile sorting,
while the Ministry of Climate and Energy continues to strengthen cooperation with municipalities and entrepreneurs.
This newsletter provides insight into the many directions in which the project is developing – from innovation and recycling technologies to education and changes in public behavior – demonstrating progress from “waste to resources.”
On 27 June 2025, SIA “ZAAO” held the fourth class in its adult non-formal education cycle “Saving the Family Budget by Living Greener” – titled “The Web of Life: Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity” – at the Nature and Technology Park “URDA.”
The session was led by Dr. Iluta Dauškane, biologist and researcher at the University of Latvia, who emphasized the importance of biodiversity in stabilizing environmental processes and ensuring human well-being.
After the lecture, participants went on a tour of the Circular Economy Center “Daibe” area, where they learned about sustainable waste management solutions and explored the interaction between nature and human activity.
Special attention was given to families – while parents attended the lecture, children enjoyed an activity area with experiments and hands-on tasks in the laboratory, encouraging their interest in science and nature.
In May and June of this year, a series of five zero-waste workshops took place in Cēsis, organized by the Cēsis Municipality. Residents gained ideas on how to give items a second life, combining both creative and sustainable choices.
“Thread Revolution” (16 May) – Viktorija Grappa and Zane Karīna Kalēja transformed old T-shirts into cotton yarn. Participants then used the yarn for crocheting, creating rugs, baskets, and bags.
“Cardboard Box Transformations” (23 May) – Laura Ločmele demonstrated how used boxes, fabric scraps, and various natural materials can be turned into practical and decorative items to use at home.
“Sustainable Wardrobe” (30 May) – stylist Karolīna Baumane spoke about the fashion industry’s impact on the environment. Agnese Gaidelone led a workshop where participants learned how to repair clothing and exchange different accessories.
“Clothing Renewal with Appliqué and Prints” (6 June) – artist Dace Vaļiniece demonstrated the appliqué technique, and Ilva Lejiņa showed how to create prints that can give clothing a new look or cover up imperfections.
“Decorative Mending and Glass Painting” (13 June) – Elīza Māra Kamradze-Tūtere, who studied decorative mending under Celia Pym, introduced mending as a design technique. Kristīne Grimma led a glass painting workshop.
The grant competition in Cēsis Municipality has concluded, with special attention this year given to circular economy ideas. The total funding amounted to €54,000, while each project had the opportunity to receive up to €8,000 (€5,000 as a base grant and up to an additional €3,000 for circular solutions).
Participants could submit projects in four categories:
– creation of new products from recycled materials;
– use of by-products in cooperation with other companies;
– development of repair services;
– rental and sharing services.
Evaluation criteria:
In the first two categories, particular emphasis was placed on the proportion of recycled materials in the final product – the higher the proportion, the higher the score.
In the repair and sharing categories, the key factor was the novelty of the service within the specific area – in Cēsis Municipality, the Vidzeme region, or at the national level.
Project applications closed on 8 August. The evaluation considered not only the quality of business plans but also the applicants’ motivation and the sustainability of their ideas.
The application process for participation in the second round of the program “SINERGIA: Industrial Symbiosis Innovation Accelerator” has concluded. The program is implemented by the association Cleantech Latvia, in cooperation with Riga Technical University, within the framework of the LIFE Integrated Project “Waste to Resources Latvia”.
In this stage, participants sought innovative solutions aimed at utilizing by-products from JSC “Valmieras piens” and JSC “Smiltenes piens” production processes – specifically sour milk whey and flotation sludge.
The acceleration program invited small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, and individuals to participate—either independently or in teams. Each round admitted two teams of up to six participants.
The acceleration program provides training, mentoring, and financial support, helping to generate ideas for industrial symbiosis solutions and strengthening the development of the circular economy in Latvia.
More information in Latvian:
Vairāk informācijas par uzņemšanas kritērijiem un programmas norisi.
LTD “Zaļā josta” implemented various activities to draw attention to the negative impact of cigarette butts on the environment. The aim of the campaign was to encourage a change in public habits and promote responsible behavior toward the environment.
The campaign began in 2024 in Riga and continued in 2025 in Liepāja, where three large-scale environmental art installations – giant cigarette butts symbolizing the growing pollution problem – were placed. The installations, accompanied by informative stands, were located on Vaiņodes Street, Roņu Street, and at 21 Atmodas Boulevard.
At the same time, informational posters were created and placed at 50 public transport stops in Riga. Every day, hundreds of cigarette butts are discarded onto the ground in Riga’s urban environment, a significant portion of them at public transport stops. The posters included a QR code linking to the educational short film “The Journey of a Cigarette Butt” about the harmful effects of cigarette litter. In the first two weeks of the campaign alone, it reached more than 600,000 residents.
LTD “Zaļā josta” Chairman of the Board, Jānis Lapsa, emphasized: “Every initiative that draws attention to cigarette butt pollution helps raise public awareness and encourages a change in habits. Change begins with understanding, and that is exactly what this project aims to promote. We want not only to inform but also to clearly demonstrate how important each individual’s choice is – whether a cigarette butt ends up in a waste bin or in the environment.”
From 12 July to 12 August this year, the initiative “My Sea” carried out the Green Expedition, which invited the public to think about a cleaner tomorrow. Over the course of a month, participants covered approximately 500 kilometers along Latvia’s coastline-from the Estonian border to the Lithuanian border-collecting data on beach litter and exploring the natural diversity of the coastline.
Researcher Marta Barone, zoologist Vilnis Skuja, and other environmental experts joined the expedition, sharing their knowledge about the importance of marine and coastal ecosystems. Every weekend, Coast Days were organized with educational activities, lectures, creative workshops, and concerts to raise public awareness about coastal protection.
During the expedition, 44 marine litter monitoring sites along the entire coastline were surveyed. The data showed that pollution levels in 2025 decreased by 8% compared to the previous year. On average, 306 pieces of litter per 100 meters were found, 77.6% of which were plastic products.
The most common type of litter found along Latvia’s coastline was cigarette butts (26.4%).
The cleanest beach was Lauču akmens (16 items/100 m), while the dirtiest was Karosta in Liepāja (1,522 items/100 m).
As part of the campaign, microplastic and plastic pellet monitoring was carried out for the first time along Latvia’s coastline. Plastic pellets were detected in 16 coastal locations. Although the amount of pollution is currently not high, the collected data indicate that the issue of plastic pellets is relevant both for Latvia’s coast and the entire Baltic Sea region.
The “My Sea” campaign was implemented by the Environmental Education Fund in cooperation with coastal municipalities and companies, while the “Green Expedition” took place within the framework of the LIFE Integrated Project “Waste as Resources in Latvia.”
Jānis Ulme, representative of the Environmental Education Fund, emphasized that there is a positive trend in reducing pollution; however, further efforts are still needed to achieve the Good Environmental Status goals for the marine environment.
More information: https://manajura.lv/
The overall results of the “My Sea” 2025 campaign are available in Latvian:here
At the beginning of September, Latvia hosted the fourth monitoring visit of the LIFE Integrated Project “Waste to Resources Latvia”, bringing together the Ministry of Climate and Energy, 22 partners, and representatives from the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and ELMEN-EEIG.
Rudīte Vesere, Deputy State Secretary for Environmental Policy at the Ministry of Climate and Energy, emphasized:
“Over the past three and a half years, the Ministry, together with LIFE project partners, has been working intensively to create the prerequisites and good practice examples for the transition from ‘waste to resources’—not only through new infrastructure and technologies but also by changing public thinking and habits.”
Nadia Lamhandaz, representative of CINEA, noted:
“It was gratifying to see how the project supports the implementation of Latvia’s National Waste Management Plan 2021–2028. It demonstrates real progress and highlights the importance of cooperation.”
Key achievements:
The amount of collected textile waste increased from 1,987 tonnes (2023) to 2,344 tonnes (2024);
More than 3,500 electrical devices have been refurbished, 1,500 of which were donated to charity;
In the first half of the year, residents handed over more than 1,000 electrical devices;
Public awareness activities in 2023–2024 reached over six million people.
During the monitoring visit, experts visited several project pilot sites – LTD “CleanR” automated sorted waste collection site, LTD “Eco Baltia vide” electrical appliance repair workshop and the store “LAB!”. The experts also learned about LTD “Econova Latvia” pilot products made from non-recyclable composite materials.
As part of the visit, they also toured the “Dziļā vāda” landfill, where LTD “Hyrogas” is implementing a pilot project on synthetic gas production technology, which has already attracted interest not only within Latvia but also internationally.
A study commissioned by “Eco Baltia vide” revealed that from 2022 to 2025, textile sorting activity in Latvia has increased by 60.6% – currently, 53% of residents sort their clothing and footwear. However, 18% of textiles are still disposed of in household waste.
Jānis Aizbalts, Chairman of the Board at “Eco Baltia vide,” emphasizes: “We are moving in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go to reach the EU target. It is necessary to continue both the development of infrastructure and educational efforts.”
Kaspars Zakulis, Director of “Latvijas Zaļais punkts,” adds: “It is important that all textile waste collectors follow the same rules and that the system remains transparent – only then will Latvia avoid becoming a dumping ground for textiles from other countries.”
The study revealed:
Textile sorting habits in Latvia are gradually improving – 37% of residents donate textiles to charity, while disposal in household waste has decreased from 25% to 18% over the past three years.
Since 2022, purchases of second-hand clothing have decreased from 52% to 47%, indicating growing consumer pragmatism and more thoughtful purchasing decisions.
“Eco Baltia vide,” in cooperation with “Latvijas Zaļais punkts,” has launched the campaign “Life Beyond the Closet”, aimed at showing that textiles are not just waste, but a resource that can be given a second life – through sorting, reuse, and creative solutions.
From 4 to 6 September, the Baltic region’s largest food industry exhibition “Riga Food 2025” took place at the International Exhibition Centre in Ķīpsala, bringing together 420 companies from more than 30 countries. The association “Zaļā brīvība” (Green Liberty) also participated with a stand, a masterclass, and a discussion as part of the LIFE Integrated Project “Waste to Resources Latvia”.
At the masterclass “Give Food a Second Chance,” chef Ieva Lācere demonstrated how vegetable peels can be turned into delicious snacks. Meanwhile, during the discussion, professionals Ina Poliščonoka, Ināra Liepiņa, Svetlana Alminoviča-Miļjanoviča, Svetlana Riškova, and Jānis Raivo Behmanis shared their experiences in reducing food waste.
At the “Zaļā brīvība” (Green Liberty) stand, visitors were invited to mark their choices on a poster: “What can you do in your household to avoid throwing food away?” For those representing catering businesses, the question was: “How can public catering prevent and manage food waste?”
The three main actions most frequently mentioned in relation to household waste were: responsible shopping, preparing appropriate portion sizes, and proper food storage.
In the public catering sector, the most common good practices for reducing food waste included:
thoughtful food purchasing – buying smaller quantities of local and seasonal products;
handing over used cooking oil and fats to companies specializing in their collection and processing;
using uneaten prepared food for staff meals.
Svetlana Riškova, co-owner of the Chefs’ Club and owner of “Remaize,” noted:
“The main challenge is perseverance – to plan every day and inspire employees to do the same.”
Sandija Svarupa, representative of the Ministry of Climate and Energy, emphasized:
“Such events bring together industry representatives and foster the creation of new initiatives to reduce food waste.”
On 17 September this year, a fashion show titled “Life Beyond the Closet” took place at the Eco Baltia vide Resource Management Center, featuring 25 outfits created from used textiles.
The garments were designed by students of the Art Academy of Latvia and textile artists — Uģis Zauerhagens, Evika Muižniece, Inguna Sīmansone, Karīna Plotņikova, Kristīne Kligina, Santa Pētersone, and Aija Bley.
Jānis Aizbalts, Chairman of the Board at Eco Baltia vide, emphasized:
“The fashion show is an opportunity to demonstrate that textiles can be a resource – through bold and practical solutions that inspire society to sort”.
Kaspars Zakulis, Director of Latvijas Zaļais punkts, added:
“It is important that the system is simple and transparent – only then can people’s efforts translate into a cleaner environment and resources that return to circulation”.
The event’s visual image was enhanced by makeup artists Silva Bērziņa, Liene Lagutkina, Baiba Vasile, Liene Šulca, Agita Boldireva, and Līga Mačevska, who created interpretations highlighting the creative power of sustainable fashion.
The fashion show took place within the framework of the “Life Beyond the Closet” campaign, implemented by Eco Baltia vide in cooperation with Latvijas Zaļais punkts as part of the LIFE Integrated Project. The goal of the campaign is to demonstrate that textiles are not waste, but a resource that can be given a second life.
In Latvia, Eco Baltia vide has installed more than 340 textile sorting containers, and residents are encouraged to bring their clothing to the nearest collection point: www.tekstils.lv
Photos from the “Life Beyond the Closet” fashion show are available here: failiem.lv/u/jz78as5gy8
Photographer – Ieva Makare
This autumn, the Ministry of Climate and Energy continued the seminar series “On the Way to Action,” dedicated to strengthening circular economy and waste management at the municipal level.
Four seminars - in Salaspils, Valmiera, Rēzekne, and Kuldīga - brought together representatives from municipalities, businesses, and non-governmental organizations, providing an opportunity for experience sharing and discussion.
Participants enhanced their knowledge on the following topics:
circular and green public procurement;
establishing circular centers in municipalities;
effective communication with the public;
strengthening cooperation in waste management.
At the end of the seminars, participants also took part in practical workshops and educational visits, where good practice examples for implementing the circular economy at the local level were presented.
Seminar presentations in Latvian:
Salaspils. Procurements with Added Value: Circular Thinking in Public Administration. Download PDF
Valmiera. Circular Centers in Municipalities: From Idea to Implementation. Download PDF
Rēzekne. Speak to Be Heard: How to Build Dialogue on Waste and the Circular Economy. Download PDF
Kuldīga. Cooperation – The Key to Sustainable Waste Management and Circular Economy Implementation. Download PDF
The Ministry of Climate and Energy has launched the campaign “BioLogic,” offering 20 interactive excursion programs for students across Latvia – from Kurzeme to Latgale. These programs combine theoretical knowledge with practical experiences in nature and urban environments, helping students understand the principles of the circular economy and sustainability.
The excursions are designed for students in grades 1–9, last 3–6 hours, and most locations are available free of charge. After the excursion, each class will receive the board game “The Crazy Fox Sorts Waste” – an educational game created in Latvia based on the UNO principle.
Kaspars Melnis, Minister for Climate and Energy, stated:
“The circular economy must become a model for everyday action. Waste should be given new life – through recycling and reuse. Real-life experience helps students understand this much faster.”
Watch a short video about the campaign here: youtu.be/0m49IcFBfT4
More information about registration, excursion programs, and educational materials is available on the website Home | Waste to Resources under the BioLogic section.
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